1 BELOVED Written by Helio J Cordeiro Helio J Cordeiro Copyright 2007 hjcordeiro@hotmail.com
2 FADE IN: EXT. FARMHOUSE DAY It is in the middle of reasonable portion of fertile land. A porch provides a useful shadow in front of it. A pond where ducks are playing give the place a special view. Nearby there is a small barn and a pen with a couple of horses and cows, complementing the space around., late 40, wears indigo coveralls; head covered by a scarf and hat comes out from the barn holding a basket full of eggs. Helen stops, reaches into the coveralls back pocket pulling out a handkerchief. She dries her face. She pulls the handkerchief back and strolls toward the farmhouse. INT. FARMHOUSE MAIN ROOM Helen enters, closes the door behind her. She passes by a MAN dozing on a couch. Just his back is seen. Helen glances at him, rolls her eyes, and trots toward the kitchen. Snoring is heard. (O.S.) Phil says he will be back... Just snores. (O.S.) I ll make a delicious cake for him... More snores. (O.S.) At least he would take you out of this couch... Helen emerges from the kitchen holding a letter. (reading) He sent a letter. Heard that Josh...Hi, grandma and grandpa. I m well. How are you? I miss you two. I hope you make a cake for me when I arrive, granny. Soon, I ll be back home... Helen smiles and looks at where the man on the couch is snoring, this man is, her husband.
3 Helen shakes her head in disapproval. She moves toward the couch, nothing seen but Joshua s back. Joshua... (shaking him) Joshua...! Joshua continues sleeping. Phil is coming back home. Joshua babbles something in a deep sleep. Helen rolls her eyes in disapproval and moves toward the staircase. EXT. FARMHOUSE DAY A Ford sedan blue, year 1940, pulls up and parks in front of the house., about 25 years old, dressed in U.S. Army uniform with private stripes gets out of the sedan. He carries with him some boxes wrapped up with colored papers and a bottle of wine. He steps out the main door. With his hands occupied with the boxes and the bottle of wine, he has difficulty opening the door. Seconds later, he succeeds and finally gets in. INT. FARMHOUSE MAIN ROOM CONT Phil closes the door behind him with his the heel of his foot. Hello! Is anybody home? Where is my favorite star? Helen? (O.S) I m coming! Phil hangs his U.S. Army dress cap on a coat rack. Next, he poses the boxes and the bottle on the coffee table. Joshua continues snoring on the couch. Helen steps down stairs.
Phil! (very happy) My dear Phil! Here you are grandson. Grandma! They meet each other and embrace like two lost lovers meeting after a long absence. Phil spins around holding Helen by wrist. Oh goodness! Put me down you crazy! Phil attends Helen appealing. He puts her down. Phil runs to picks up two boxes and gives them to her. (emotional) Phil... They move to the kitchen. INT. KITCHEN DAY Phil relaxes at table as Helen prepares something for him. Hey, Phil, tell me all about Europe. She gets a cake from a cupboard and places it on the table. Next, she pours them both a cup of hot tea. It is a very beautiful place, grandma and the girls are so pretty... She cuts a piece of cake and serves it to Phil. (with a certain sadness) Your mom would be proud of you, Phil. I know, granny. Will you stay? 4
5 No, I have to go back today, granny. The war continues and they need me out there... INT. MAIN ROOM DAY Joshua wakes up. He is about 70 years old. Stretches his body and stands up from the couch. Helen! Where is she? Helen! He strolls to the window, opens the curtains and looks outside. (OS) I m here, in the kitchen, dear. I have a surprise for you, Josh. Joshua moves to the kitchen. INT. KITCHEN DAY Joshua enters and walks to the table where Helen sits. She turns to him... She seems to be more than the 40 years old as she was seen at the beginning. She is ALONE! Do you know who visited us, Josh? I tried to wake you up, Josh! Joshua sits nearby Helen. Helen, Helen...You are again with these dreams, honey. It was our Phil, Josh. He brought lot of gifts from Europe... Stop it, Helen! Hey, honey, Phil is dead. You slept, honey! No, he is alive and visited us, Josh. He is alive! He came to eat my cake...i promised Laura I ll take care of him, Josh... She shows Josh a plate with a piece of cake untouched.
6 Our grandson Phil is dead, honey. He did die during the war... He sent this letter saying he will come... (picking the letter from her hand) It is from the 40s, honey. Put it away. Look, you are tired, my dear... Helen s face begins to change into a deep sadness. Tears drop from her eyes. No, he came visiting us, Josh. He talked to me. Embraced me... Joshua stands and helps Helen stand as well. C mon, honey. Lets go outside and get some fresh air. C mon... The two move slowly out of the kitchen. EXT. FARMHOUSE THE PORCH - DAY Joshua and Helen exit from the home. Joshua holds Helen by her arm. The Ford sedan 1940 stays parked at the same place, but now it s covered in ivy. The sedan has lost the original color and now is very rusty. Joshua and Helen sit on a bench and stay there embraced as the sun dies behind the mountains. INT. FARMHOUSE MAIN ROOM DAY Still hanging from the coat rack is Phil s U.S. Army dress cap! FADE OUT